Again I say.. IT BEATS SNOW!!! Another cold front called a "norther" has rolled in bringing high winds from the north last night. That doesn't stop the beach goers though and the added surf is always a nice change from the normally calm Caribbean waters surrounding Roatan!
Looking for the ultimate getaway on Roatan? Somewhere where you can be pampered like a Rock Star and live out a dream of staying in a Mansion for a week? A place like no other you've ever experienced before? Check out Costa Tesoro... opening soon to a very few select travelers who will only accept the very best! The Mansion begins taking reservations in March. Oh, and it's available to buy or invest in as well.
Whether it's your first time here, or you're a 'seasoned' frequent traveller to the Islands, Roatan offers something for everybody! And when the fever strikes... you may be looking to become Roatan's newest property owner. More and more people come to the Bay Islands in search of paradise and wind up staying longer, coming back or even buying a piece of land, house or condo before prices start rising once again. Let's hear what some Canadian tourists have to say about our little Caribbean hideaway...
Roatan island is electrified by one utility -- Roatan Electric Company or RECO for short. I was privileged today to meet with the big kahuna himself, Mr. Richard Warren - General Manager of RECO, and learn first hand WHO they are, WHAT they are doing, WHEN they are going to do it, WHERE they came from, and WHY they do what they do. Watch this very informative and revealing interview...
Arguably, Roatan's greatest natural resource has in it's "popularity arsenal" is the barrier reef system that surrounds the Bay Islands. Divers have been coming to Roatan to gaze in awe at the coral, swim with the marine life dependent on the reef, and photograph the splendor of the rainbow of colors it offers. The Roatan Marine Park was established to preserve, educate and conserve Roatan's precious coral reefs and has done an excellent job keeping predators at bay... ensuring sustainability for generations to come. What kind of threats to this fragile ecosystem does the Marine Park monitor? The answer may just shock you...
With the vast majority of visitors arriving via one of the many Cruise Ships stopping at Roatan, one has to wonder how our little, developing Island fares against the "big boys"... the Grand Caymans, the Belizes, the Cozumels..... Watch what this Honeymoon couple, Gary and Pepper from Colorado, have to say about their day on Roatan, and how they compared their visit here to the other Ports they visited...
A very special ending to our days here on the island... the Roatan Sunset! Almost every night, weather permitting, we sit on our deck, or go out to the end of our dock and watch the sky change from deep blue to yellow, then orange, then deep red... it's fascinating to see the sun disappear into the horizon -- and it never gets boring! Take a look for yourself and see a reason so many cherish life here in the Tropics... We are truly blessed!
Join me on my 1500cc Vulcan as I tour the Island and courier some packages by air, sea... and land! We may not have dependable FEDEX here on Roatan... but who needs that crap anyways? We have even better ways to send parcels... more efficiently, cheaper and funner!! And witness a Caribbean traffic jam first hand! But it's no problemo for a moto (as they call them here)... I'll take you right to the front of the line...
In addition to the more than 12 direct flights to Roatan per week from the US and Canada, Roatan relies heavily on the Cruise Ship traffic now in full swing in the Bay Islands. Five ships in port yesterday and 4 today mean big business to the locals. Just how important to the local economy are these Cruise Ship visitors? Watch as local Islanders speak out...
As the temperatures reach nearly 80º today, Hotel rooms and lobbies empty out and the beach fills with colorful bathing attire, snorkel gear, beach vendors and sun worshipers. This is what Roatan is all about! I strolled out from Costa Tesoro this morning, caught some rays and caught up with a few locals taking advantage of the sunshine to flog some crap (I mean, sell some wares) to the vacationers...
The tropical rainy season runs from November through to February here on Roatan (different than the mainland) and we typically get 80-100 inches of rain during this time. This year, our rains came late and started in late December. Rainfall has been moderate, but our temperatures are dropping now and then to BELOW 70º in the mornings... see for yourself!
Tourist season is in full swing on the islands and Carnival Cruise Line's new Mahogany Bay terminal is operating perfectly! This past week 2 ships were in port and transportation around the island worked perfectly!! Roatan welcomes its visitors with friendly smiles, exciting tropical activities and low priced Real Estate. Property inquiries are up and it looks like 2010 will be a banner year for sales of all sorts!
When Kelcy Warren purchased 52% of RECO (Roatan Electric COmpany) earlier this year, it seemed as though he had a plan. He told Islanders of his wonderful "love" of the Island people. How he wanted to "help" out Roatan's inhabitants. And, how he was in this for the long haul....
The Roatan Annual Fishing Tournament, sponsored in part by RE/MAX Bay Islands and the Municipality of Roatan (Coxen Hole) was held this weekend in West End. More than 30 entrants this year with avid anglers coming from as far away as Texas and Florida to participate in the 3 day event. Both local Islanders and San Pedro Sula boats competed for the biggest fish, among other categories.
This year, we're PROUD to say that a crew, Captained by local Gary McLaughlin (who, by the way also Captains my personal boat) won the tournament and set a new Central American/Caribbean record with their 704-pound Blue Marlin. My neighbor and owner of Las Rocas Resort was credited with the catch, which took the 6 guys on board "Mad Max" more than 4 hours to reel in.
The Mayor of Roatan Muni, Dale Jackson announced, during the prize ceremony, a $10,000 reward for anyone who beats this record!! Congrats to all who participated in this annual event... and especially to Gary and his crew! Well done guys!
The Island of Roatan continues to change. As tourism and development grows, so does the population. As more people are migrating to the Islands, not just from the USA and Canada, but from mainland Honduras, 
more services are needed to feed, clothe, house and care for these migrants. Someone told me today the population is nearly 70,000 on Roatan... more than double the amount 10 years ago, when Shelley and I moved here from Canada! New shopping malls, grocery stores, building supply and hardware stores are all being built right now to offer us more selection, better prices and better service.
And who is building all this infrastructure? More than 60% of the new commercial construction is being done by the large families from the mainland who already own these type of businesses over there. Large, wealthy families whose fortunes have been made, in part, by supplying Hondurans both every day staples and luxury items like televisions, automobiles, and electronic appliances. Just 3 weeks ago, KIA opened Roatan's FIRST car dealership across from the airport, and I'm sure other car companies (franchise stores owned by Honduras' elite) will follow suit.
That is good news.... that means Roatan is now confirmed a great place for solid investment. It means, we are finally getting those amenities bigger cities have boasted for years... Prices here are still about 1/4 of other Caribbean destinations like Caymans, Turk & Caicos, St. Thomas, etc. That means we could theorectically double our prices, triple them, or even quadruple them before we can compare to these other islands.... and I think in the next 3-5 years, you'll see prices on Roatan triple.
Continue reading "Local honduran aristocrats moving to roatan" »
One of my favorite months of the year is right now... this one, August... has been pretty much consistent throughout the 10 years Shelley and I have been here now.... 
Hot, dry, little wind, and crystal clear nights. Did you catch the full moon last night? Over West Bay? Wow! That was an incredible site! It never ceases to amaze me... God's wonders for us to enjoy! And a meteor shower as a backdrop. Thanks Lord.
If you are planning a trip down over the next few months, remember a lot of airlines have cut back their flight schedules so be sure to book your trip well in advance. I heard 52 flights to the Caribbean islands have been suspended until December. High fuel costs are blamed. Regardless, this is a great time to see Roatan.... not a huge amount of visitors, cheaper room prices and a lot more room on the beach!
With the advent of the new stricter municipal laws concerning waste water in West Bay, and the enforcement of those, we're seeing hundreds of thousands of aquatic life return to the once desolate West Bay iron shore!! By forcing those offenders to clean up their act, we are seeing fast and noticeable results by the type and quantity of fish and marine life that is back on our shores....
On recent snorkels with the family, it seems that almost every week there are more and more lobsters, spider crabs, bandit shrimp, sea horses, and of course, snappers, groupers and angelfish where just months earlier, there had been none. Yeah! says my sons.... they are happy to see Mother Nature repair itself from the damage of a few careless hotel operators on West Bay Beach. Luckily, these problems are behind us as treatment plants have been installed and are functioning and the authorities have been noticeably visible throughout the beach! West Bay continues to be one of the prettiest places in the world, above AND now below the water as well....
As the first 6 months of 2008 is little behind us, I thought it prudent to investigate the Real Estate market here on Roatan in light of the US recession and overall poor global economy due, in part, to global warming, higher gasoline prices, food shortages, and the middle east continuing crisis....
According to statistics reported in the Roatan MLS, the authority used by the Roatan Realtors Association, our market here is somewhat slower than 2007 for the same time period. Most notably is Condo sales... down 50% over last year, while the average sales price for a condo on Roatan is now $477,000, up 27% from 2007's $375,000. Single family homes are also down by more than 61% with the average 2008 selling price of $331,000, down 19% over last year's $409,000. Residential lot sales are down 25% with the average sales price within 1% of last year at $171,000...
What all this means is that Roatan and other 2nd home market areas ARE affected by the US economy in that fewer people are buying investment properties right now. Construction hasn't slowed a bit here though, so perhaps more available product (more choices) has also been a factor resulting in fewer sales. One thing for sure, we're seeing more Realtors dropping out of the profession than new ones coming on board. This cleansing taking place, both in the USA and here in the Islands is a normal market condition... after 18 years in the business, I've seen this cycle a few times now.
As I've said before... right now is a very good time to buy, put in offers, or invest in Real Estate on Roatan!
As most Americans around the world get ready for back yard bar-b-ques, family gatherings and organized events surrounding this one only holiday celebrating the Independence of the United States of America, I thought I would do a little research on the holiday and give a little background... (isn't Wikipedia wonderful?)
The United States Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, announcing that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were no longer a part of the British Empire. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration was a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. The birthday of the United States of America—Independence Day—is celebrated on July 4, the day the wording of the Declaration was approved by Congress.
Contrary to a once-common misconception, Congress did not sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. First published as a printed broadside, the famous handwritten version was created after July 19, and was signed by most Congressional delegates on August 2. This copy, usually regarded as the Declaration of Independence, is now on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Continue reading "Another 4th of july remembers independence" »
There's no place like home.... there's no place like home... remember the words of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz? But just where IS home? For Shelley and I with more than 10 years on Roatan Island.... THIS is home. Yet, with family and friends still up in the frozen north, a little piece of our heart still belongs in Canada. Canada... a nation larger than all the countries in Central America combined.... rich in natural resources from oil to pure water to gold to aluminum to fishing to forests... Canada is an amazing country. And this, it's 140th year anniversary, I thought I'd share a little about the history of Canada Day... a day much like the 4th of July to the Americans...
On June 20, 1868, a proclamation signed by the Governor General, Lord Monck, called upon all Her Majesty's loving subjects throughout Canada to join in the celebration of the anniversary of the formation of the union of the British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on July 1st. The July 1 holiday was established by statute in 1879, under the name Dominion Day.
On October 27, 1982, July 1st which was known as "Dominion Day" became "Canada Day". Since 1985, Canada Day Committees are established in each province and territory to plan, organize and coordinate the Canada Day celebrations locally. --so there you have it.... in a nutshell CANADA DAY!
I am proud to be a Canadian... but wouldn't give up the palm trees, warm Caribbean waters, and friendly atmosphere of the Bay Islands for anything.... but it's nice to pay tribute and visit such a spectacular country every now and then.. and today seems like a good day to do that. For more information on Canada Day, to to http://www.pch.gc.ca/PROGS/CPSC-CCSP/JFA-HA/canada_e.cfm
I can remember just a few short years ago, the normal verbiage one would find on a listing sheet, or MLS advertisement of development properties included terms like "very nice", "quaint", "modern", "Island-style", "local charm" and "power and water available". This was a time where buildings were modest, yet 
comfortable... affordable, yet clean and neat... and cozy, yet modern. It seems with the influx of Ex-pats wanting all the luxuries of home, our building schemes are rapidly changing here on the Islands.
To quote a proposed development, currently in permit stages, it seems sophisticated buyers are now looking for more sophisticated properties... "...The development features the most state-of-the art services, including high-speed internet access, tank-less water heaters and water filtration systems. Also, the development will feature one of the Island’s first desalination systems, resulting in not only cleaner and fresher water, but a cost savings as well. The project will also feature the most reliable back-up power supply in the event of any loss in Island power.
The beachfront condo project will also feature a full-service health spa, fitness center, coffee bar, general store, business center, restaurant, and bar...." - business center???? Who in the world would have thought a hotel/condo facility on Roatan would offer it's guests a business center? It seems Roatan is finally growing up... "Up"scale, that is.
Just drive around the lovely island of Roatan and you'll see a lot of activity in the jungle. Trees being marked and cleared, new roads being cut in, and development billboards displayed "coming soon" messages seem to be everywhere! And what is the number one item on the drawing boards this year? 
CONDOS! More and more baby boomers are searching Roatan for "pain free" investments... and what's better than a condo that you can use anytime you wish to, and get some rental income when you're back at home.
And developers are listening with more than 2,000 units currently on the books and more coming it appears. And the condo boom is not restricted to the "AAA" locations like West Bay anymore--they are popping up throughout our 79 square mile isle. Developments like Blue Ocean Reef, with their Nikki Beach affiliation, Oceano, Parrot Tree Plantation, and even Pineapple Villas (all located on the east end) are jumping on the condo bandwagon and are offering some very nice, and expensive abodes.... One thing is for sure, nobody told any of these guys there is a slow down in the States that may be limiting buyers... or at least, they don't seem to care.
Locations are being secured right now throughout Roatan for the installation of Cell towers. Leases are being presented and signed and we believe this improvement to communications will only benefit the continued investment into Honduras. The article below is courtesy of Digicel...
DIGICEL CENTRAL AMERICA WINS COMPETITIVE BID FOR A MOBILE LICENSE IN HONDURAS
TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS--(Marketwire - December 19, 2007) - Digicel Central America Holdings Limited, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Digicel Honduras S.A. de C.V., is pleased to announce that it has won a competitive bid process for a license to operate a GSM mobile network in Honduras. The highly competitive auction took place on Wednesday, Dec. 19th, with Digicel bidding US$80.1 million. It is expected that the decision to grant the fourth operator license to Digicel Honduras will be approved by Congress in the coming weeks.
Significant investment in Honduras is planned to build a world-class network and operation that is set to stimulate growth in the mobile market by increasing mobile penetration within the next five years from approximately 38% to 75%. Honduras has a total population of close to 7.5 million.
Continue reading "Honduras adds another major cell phone company" »
For some time now, the US has been under the ominous blanket many experts are calling a recession. Home starts are almost non-existent, mortgages are being foreclosed on, and house prices are dropping through the floor. Some areas in the States are seeing homes that sold for over $2.1M two years ago... now being listed for under $950k. (Idaho area) To say this has not trickled down to us on the Islands would be incorrect.
After more than 10 years in the Real Estate market here on Roatan, I can honestly say, I've not seen anything affect the sales conditions more than the present state of affairs in the USA. Emails from my colleagues offering "selling bonuses", reduced prices, and excellent seller financing terms are being distributed through our MLS board almost daily. Many sellers are realizing that the buyers we had a year ago, are far and few between. That's good news if you're in the market for a second home, vacation destination, or have some spare cash to invest in an up and coming Caribbean Island. Roatan's median price is still far below the rest of the Caribbean Islands out there so, although there may be some corrections taking place right now, you can bet that our market will continue to climb... at least until we are on par with the rest of the Caribbean. Now is the time to make offers, secure your dream property, and invest in paradise... more than ever!
Just when we thought living on Roatan couldn't get any better, the Guatemalan company currently developing over 400 acres on Roatan's north shore has added yet another plus 
for considering Roatan for investment/retirement. Pristine Bay Resort, as it is called on their website is now under construction and the first phases include a championship 18 hole golf course designed by Pete Dye, a world class hotel project and a full service marina facility.
Rolling out their plans Friday at Coral Cay, more than 300 people were among the first to see their plan and learn of the wonderful benefits this type of development will mean to Roatan's economy. They will also be phasing in property/condo sales at a later date. Golf memberships will be available to residents of the Island and the hotel will feature some amazing restaurants and shops. The "Black Pearl" golf resort is scheduled for completion within 24 months and will draw a lot of tourists who have been waiting for such an amenity for the Island.
May in Roatan brings warm dry weather, beautiful orange sunsets and lots of room on the beaches. Typically a slow time of year for Cruise ships and tourist traffic, May and June are actually some of the most enjoyable (climate wise) months of the year!
Many clients looking for well valued Real Estate are also snooping around at this time. With hotels and airlines offering cheaper deals right now, it's a good time to hop on a plane and check out the Islands. You can still get a lobster dinner for $15 and a beer is still around $1. Beachfront condos in West End have just come onto the market below $200k USD and there's a good chance the golf course (Black Pearl Golf Club) now under construction, will be completed next year! RECO, now under new management, is doing well and power outages have been far and few between.
For us old timers (more than 10 years now) it's nice to see the slow down on the Island.... but it won't last long... July and August bring folks from Europe and Central America to vacation and explore the beauties of Roatan!! But for now, Shelley and I can enjoy walking right in to our favorite restaurants without a line... and of course.. no reservations required!!
When Bobby Mandic and Dimi Peev walked into my office in February carrying a large poster board, I couldn't help but wonder what the heck they had to show me.... Having just finished a successful project off the beach here, Caribbean Breeze Villas, 'Team Canada', as I refer to them, were ready to present their next home run.... Jewel Estate!! After seeing the renderings, floor plans and pricing structure, I was blown away at the professionalism I found in their latest venture.
Still in the permit stages, Jewel Estate is set to be the next benchmark on West Bay Beach for affordable quality and functional design. 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom (with lock off suite) plans are well laid out, spacious and feature the finest in finishings. Pre-construction prices start at only $247,160 and these guys will help you finance your purchase through construction!! We've begun taking reservations for this 32 unit, boutique style condo/hotel which allow owners to occupy, or place in the sure-to-be-profitable rental pool. Furnishing packages are available so ease of buying couldn't be better thought out.
"We exploded onto the market with these", says Mandic, "we've already sold 15 at these discounted prices in our first 45 days!" To take advantage of these 10% discounts off the list prices, you need to put down a $5,000 refundable deposit. Once permits are issued, that deposit will need to be increased to 10% of the purchase price. Go to www.jewelestate.net for more detailed information. --Hurry though, these prices won't last long... and by the looks of the pre-sales, neither will the units!
Decisions decisions decisions... like when you wake up in the morning in Paradise... should I have Pineapple? Or Papaya? Tough yes.. but someone has to live like this... After 10 years here I am almost beginning to figure out the weather patterns throughout the year.... and being that there is only 2 seasons here in the Tropics--summer and winter--it's harder to predict just how long either will last each year.
Right now, Roatan--located in the Bay Islands off the north coast of Honduras --is experiencing some GREAT not-so-hot-but-tolerable weather... free from clouds in the sky and embracing the gentle trade winds our Islands are famous for. The kind of weather that reminds us of why we're here... The kind of weather that makes you want to jump into water activities.... fishing, boating, snorkeling, diving... real "summer" weather.
Currently at 86º, the 10 day forecast holds much of the same... and I'm told by the Islanders that have been here all their lives... that we're now in our summer months... and this kind of perfect weather is going to last right through to September..... If you are planning a vacation or an investment trip to Roatan, now is a good time to do so. Tourist season is officially finished for the next couple months and bargains on rental cars, hotels and attractions (including fishing) are everywhere. Drop me an email and I'd be happy to hook you up.
The following was reprinted from HONDURAS THIS WEEK, April 14, 2008...
Roatan Bruce: I would like to officially welcome you, Kelcy Warren, the new majority stock holder of RECO!
Kelcy Warren: Well, officially, I am not the owner of RECO yet. That will not happen for another couple of weeks. I am excited however to make that transition.
Roatan Bruce: Tell us a little about you. I know my listeners would like to get to know you better.
Kelcy Warren: I grew up in Texas and got my college education in Texas. I have been in the energy business my entire career. I run a company called Energy Transfer Partners. It is a Fortune 200 company. It is one of the largest companies in America. We distribute natural gas and propane across the United States. It’s been a very successful company.
I have a son. His name is Clyde. He is probably the thing I am most proud of in my life. He is only five years old. He loves it here. I fell in love with The Bay Islands awhile back and made an investment here. I tried to just blend into the scenery, but my nature did not allow me to do that for very long as is evidenced by my participation in RECO.
Roatan Bruce: What are some of your plans to get RECO back in good working order, in the short, mid and long term?
Kelcy Warren: Without access to capital and with Roatan growing at the rate it is growing, you can’t run this business correctly. It will ultimately fail as it did. This is not a complicated solution. It is very straightforward. We generate power here, we distribute it and we sell it to consumers. Hopefully, the sales price exceeds the cost to do those things. If they don’t, you are running a failed business. I am going to do everything in my power to correct that.
Continue reading "RECO gets "re-manufactured" thanks to warren" »
As the Real Estate industry flattens, plummets, bombs (depending on your area) in the United States right now, many people are looking at moving their investments to a better market. In fact, Roatan property sales seem to be on the rise.... partially due to the US economy and probably mostly to do with the great Global press Roatan has been receiving of late in the investment sector. Since more people want to buy in
the Bay Islands, more demand is created for choice investment properties.....and more people are becoming "self-professed" Realtors, Property Agents, Land agents---there's lots of titles out there. The fact is... if they are NOT LICENSED by the Municipality here... they are not legally allowed to sell real estate here.
I've been told of unscrupulous individuals (sharks, basically) disguising themselves as legit companies, offering their services in bars, restaurants and resorts all over the island. BEWARE! Do your homework before
you send money to "escrow" accounts. If a deal sounds too good to be true.... it probably is. Make sure your agent is licensed. Ask to see the certificate. Ask for references. Go and check out their office. Make sure people are who they say they are. This goes for legal representation as well. The law specifically states that ONLY NOTARIES (as opposed to attorneys) ARE LEGALLY ABLE TO ATTEND TO REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS/CLOSINGS. If you need more information on this subject, feel free to email or call me and I'd be happy to help you out. Roatan remains the hottest market in the Caribbean! Choose wisely with your eyes open and you too can enjoy paradise purchased properly....
